Viral engine for network deployment

ABSTRACT

A private network system operates over a public network to provide an asymmetric service to members with information from other members and non-members. The system includes central servers and databases connected via the public network to client systems of public network users. The users may be members who communicate with a private protocol or non-members who communicate with the public protocol. A process for the private service includes communication of information between users via the private service servers. The private service server implements the private service, which includes a viral engine for network deployment. Features of the viral engine include genetic algorithms, data mining, personalization, frictionless service setup, user maximization, and member-controlled privacy. A sample setup process and contact update wizard that include several viral engine features are described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/438,581, filed Apr. 3, 2012, entitled “Viral Engine for NetworkDeployment”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/104,217, filed Apr. 16, 2008, entitled “Viral Engine for NetworkDeployment” (U.S. Pat. No. 8,176,131), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/703,337, filed Nov. 7, 2003, entitled“Viral Engine for Network Deployment” (U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,324), whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for allpurposes including any appendices or attachments.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/703,949, filed on Nov. 7, 2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,104,entitled “Synchronization and Merge Engines,” which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposesincluding any appendices or attachments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to network deployment, and moreparticularly, to the deployment of a hybrid peer-to-peer/client-serverprivate network using an asymmetric viral approach.

2. Description of the Related Art

Maintenance of up-to-date contact information between friends, family,business associates, clients, and customers has always been a challengeand a difficult task. More frequently than not, people change at leastsome of their contact information such as phone numbers, fax numbers,mobile phone numbers, electronic mail addresses, physical addresses, andthe like. For example, presently approximately 35% of Internet userschange electronic mail addresses annually, approximately 33% of mobilephone numbers are changed annually, and approximately 40 millionphysical addresses change every year.

Out-of-date contact information leads to personal losses such asfriendships or business losses such as missed opportunities leading toincreased productivity and revenue. For example, inaccurate andlow-quality customer data results in bad mailings and staff overheadcosting upwards of $600 billion a year to U.S. businesses. Hence, acentralized universal address book with up-to-date contact informationof customers, business associates, friends, and the like, is a verydesirable service.

Due to the high desirability of such a service, conventional onlineservice providers on the Internet, such as PlanetAll.com (now owned byAmazon.com), developed conventional online services for storage andmaintenance of personal information on a server, accessible via theInternet. In general, these services allowed a user to subscribe to theservice and store personal information at a remote server so that theuser's personal information was automatically included in the onlineaddress books of other subscribing users of the relevant service.

In these conventional online services, the subscribing owner of thepersonal information was responsible for maintenance of theirinformation. Whenever the subscribing owner made changes to theinformation, the online service server was updated. Thereafter, othersubscribing users of the system would have access to the updatedinformation by logging into the system and synchronizing with thatchanged information to update their online address books. Further, theseconventional online services provided the ability to synchronizepersonal information maintained within a personal information manager(“PIM,” e.g., Microsoft Outlook) with the personal information stored onthe remote server through a downloadable conventional synchronizationsoftware product, such as, for example, Intellisync® for PlanetAll.com,developed by Puma Technology, Inc., of San Jose, Calif.

One problem with these conventional online services is that they must besymmetric. Symmetric services require a subscription membership to theservice on both sides of the information exchange facilitated by theservice. That is, only subscribers of the conventional online servicescould update PIM information with each other if each owner of the PIMsubscribed to the service. Thus, the service only works for its intendedpurpose of keeping information updated if both the user providing theupdated information and the user seeking an information updatesubscribed to the service. Non-subscribers were unable to synchronizetheir PIM information with subscribers and vice versa. Hence,subscribers to the service would be unable to maintain synchronized datawith nonsubscribers. This symmetry requirement limited user flexibilityin maintaining consistency of data across the various types of contacts.

Another problem with such conventional online services was limitedsubscriber flexibility in configuring the information in a manner mostsuitable for that subscriber. For example, the subscribing user lackedflexibility allowing a subscriber to select particular data fields orsets of data fields to update other subscribing users in of the serviceon a per subscriber basis. Thus, subscribers were limited to an “all ornone” proposition for updating information between subscribers.

These conventional services (including PlanetAll.com) have been used topromote the deployment over the Internet of private networks ofsubscribers based on the premise that a subscription to the privatenetwork provides a valuable service, i.e., a centralized address book.However, such attempts to deploy private networks have failed dueprincipally to slow deployment rates. In part, these private networksfailed to grow their membership because the symmetric nature of theprivate network service limited the value for the initial set of users.The real value of the private network service could not be realizeduntil large numbers of PIM users subscribed to the private networkservice. Hence, as long as the number of subscribers of the privatenetwork service remained small, new users were not enticed to subscribe.Consequently, without new subscribing users, the private network servicecould not grow to a size necessary to support its value proposition, andin turn, the private network service would ultimately collapse and fail.

Therefore, there is a need for a system and process to deploy a privatenetwork within a public network of users (1) without requiringmembership to the private network as a prerequisite for providing asubstantial service to members, (2) that increases the value of itsservice by rapidly acquiring new members, (3) that provides a universaladdress book of members and non-members, and (4) that includes featuresto promote rapid membership growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems of conventional privatenetwork deployment methods by providing a system to virally deploy aprivate network over a pre-existing communication channel, or publicnetwork, with an asymmetric service. An asymmetric service in accordancewith the present invention provides members of a private network acommunication channel between other members as well as non-members whileoperating over a public network. Hence, unlike conventional privatenetwork services, the present invention does not require membership inthe private network to provide a valuable service to members of theprivate network, including its initial set of members. This featurebeneficially overcomes the conventional network deployment problem ofinitial membership because the service provided to the private networkmembers also functions over non-members, and therefore, produces usefulresults beginning with the first member.

The present invention also includes a system and a method for promotingnetwork growth. Network growth is desirable for members of privatenetworks of the present invention because, although the asymmetricservice operates over members and non-members, enhanced features of theservice may be made available among members of the private network. Forexample, enhanced features available to members include onlinetransactions between members with verified identity, payment services,authentication (and other security features), collaborative informationsharing, PIM synchronization, calendar functions, and the like. Hence,although not necessary from a member's standpoint, private networkgrowth increases the service value to its members. Accordingly, oneembodiment of the present invention includes a viral engine (or system)that incorporates features into the service to promote rapid privatenetwork growth, thereby increasing the benefits and value to members.However, unlike malicious computer viruses, the viral features of thepresent invention are permission based. Rather than recklessly invadinguser systems, the viral features of the present invention function toconvince users to join or subscribe to the private network based on thebenefits and services it provides to members.

In general, a private network system according to the present inventionincludes a central server, a viral engine and database connected to thepublic network. The viral engine is used for a private network andasymmetric service. The public network includes interconnected networkusers. A subset of those users may be members of the private network.The other users of the public network are generally non-members. Forexample, in one embodiment of the present invention, users of a publicnetwork (e.g., the Internet) can join a private network that provides anautomatic contact information update service for members' contact lists.In this example, the private network and asymmetric service operate overthe public network (e.g., the Internet) and is capable of receivingcontact information updates from users of the public network, whetherthey are members of the private network or not. Thereby, beginning withthe first member of the private network, the service provides abeneficial result by updating the first member's contact list withcurrent information provided by users of the public network. Therefore,valued participation is from both members and non-members of the privatenetwork.

The viral engine of the present invention includes features that inducegrowth of the private network in a rapid spreading manner (e.g., like avirus). These features include an embodiment of a viral equation forrapid network growth, Growth=Number of Users (N)*Conversion Rate (CR).The viral growth features are designed to induce rapid network growth bymaximizing the number of users of the public network that are exposed tothe private network (N) and maximizing their conversion rate fromnon-members to members (CR). For example, in one embodiment the publicnetwork is a computer network of electronic mail (“e-mail”) users. Anasymmetric service to induce membership in a private network beingdeployed includes an automatic contact information update for members'address books. To increase the number of members, non-members are sentinvitations to join the private network (N) through the public network.For example, a contact update unit transmits contact update requests toall the public network users in a member's address book and, fornon-members, includes an invitation to join the network with the contactupdate requests. When a non-member accepts the invite and is convertedinto a member, the private network grows in size.

Another feature for increasing the number of users (N) in an e-mailcontext includes a data-mining unit. The data-mining unit appliesheuristic and other algorithms to a member's e-mail folders to identifypublic network users who have had e-mail communications with the memberbut who are not in the member's address book. After identifying thesepublic network users, the data-mining unit (or other appropriatemechanism) adds, or offers to add, the public network users to themember's address book. This beneficially increases the number ofpotential users who may be contacted for membership or otherwise exposedto the private network.

Features of the viral engine intended to maximize the conversion rate(CR) are also included in the present invention. For example, a viralgrowth feature includes a personalization function for composing updaterequest messages. Input from a member is used to personalize the updaterequests sent to the public network users listed in the member's addressbook. For non-members, the personalized update requests may includeinvitations to join the private network. The invitations are more likelyto be accepted when included in personalized messages created by themember as opposed to standardized mass mailing that are often consideredsynonymous to ‘junk-mail” messages and typically ignored.Personalization of messages tends to increase the conversion rate (CR)that, in turn, grows the private network.

Other features that may increase the conversion rate (CR) are trackedand genetically evolved using genetic algorithms. Data is collected andanalyzed regarding the likelihood that a non-member, public network userwill convert to private network member based on certain features. Forexample, aesthetic appeal related features are combined and varied inseveral versions of service messages, web pages, and other userinterface data objects presented to non-members, and the correspondingconversion rates due to each of the version is tracked and analyzed.Aesthetic appeal related features include, for example, colors,arrangement, tone, graphics, and the like. Genetic algorithms are usedto create new versions of user interface objects by only evolvingsuccessful prior versions.

To further maximize the conversion rate (CR), another viral enginefeature relates to exploiting relationships between members andnon-members, users of the public network. This feature includesrepeatedly performing analysis of the messages within a member's messagerecords to identify relationships with public network users. Analysis toidentify relationship to users may include heuristic and otheralgorithms based on frequency of sending, receiving, or replying tocommunications, length of communications, tone of written messages,specific words or strings in messages or descriptions that may signal acloser relation (e.g., “Dear mom,” “Dad's cell no.,” or the like), areacodes, time of day of communications, or any other information inmembers records that can lead to relationship related information.

A premise of the relationship feature is that the closer therelationship between a member and a non-member receiving the member'sservice request bearing an invitation to join the private network, themore likely it is that the non-member may subscribe to the privatenetwork, i.e., the higher the likelihood of conversion. Therefore, thisrelationship based viral feature positively impacts the conversion rate(CR). For example, in one embodiment the analysis includes producing alist of non-member public network users that frequently correspond withthe member. The list can be enhanced with a frequency bar graphicallyrepresenting the frequency of e-mail communication with each of thepublic network users in the list. The member is given the option to sendcontact update requests bearing invitations to join the private networkto any of the out-of-network users listed. Users who have more frequentcontacts with a member are more likely to have a closer relationshipwith the member, and hence, are more likely to respond to the member'srequest and invitation to join the private network.

Another viral network growth feature is based on the repeated exposureof non-members to the private network. For example, one embodiment ofthe present invention includes automatically scheduling the transmissionof reminder update requests to non-responsive non-members atpredetermined time intervals. Another embodiment includes an e-mailbased automatically updating signature block. The signature blockincludes an invitation to join the private network and is automaticallyadded to all outbound e-mail messages of a member. The automaticallyupdating signature block is an enhanced feature of the service availableonly to private network members. By sending the signature block to everyuser that receives an e-mail from the member and showing a benefit ofprivate network membership, the signature block feature increases thenumber of users of the public network exposed to the private network(N). Further, the signature block feature shows by example a benefit ofmembership in the private network, which in turn is likely to inducesome non-members to join the network. Hence, the signature block featurealso has a positive impact the conversion rate (CR).

The principles of the present invention are also applicable to otherinformation management services that can be provided as an asymmetricservice, such as, for example, calendar synchronization services,meetings, reminders, notes, tasks, advertisements (e.g., wanted ads),auction services, news, hiring or employment related informationmanagement, collaborative project management services, federated paymentprocessing, security and verification services, authentication, trust,or any other services requiring information sharing, synchronization, orupdating. Similarly, the present invention also applies to other systemsin which viral growth is desirable to enhance or deploy a network.

The features and advantages described in the specification are not allinclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantageswill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thedrawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selectedto delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention has other advantages and features which will be morereadily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of one embodiment of a network system inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2a illustrates an embodiment of a logical network environment inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2b illustrates an embodiment of a structural network environment inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3a is a flow chart of a process for growing a private network inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3b is an event diagram of one example of a method illustratingasymmetric operation according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4a through 4d illustrate stages of viral growth of a network inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5a is a list of different electronic mail messages having differentaesthetic appeal related features and their corresponding conversionrates according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5b is a sample update request electronic mail message according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5c is a sample update request electronic mail message according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5d is a sample update request electronic mail message according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a list of different Internet web pages having differentaesthetic appeal related features and their corresponding empirical andstatistical data measures according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7a is a sample update response web page according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7b is a sample update response web page according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8a is a sample invitation to join web page according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8b is a sample invitation to join web page according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8c is a sample invitation to join web page according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9a is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9b is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9c is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9d is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9e is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9f is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9g is a sample screen shot for a step in the system setup accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sample screen shot of a contacts update wizard according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sample graphical report including a frequency bars to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sample personalized update request according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13a is a sample user interface for inputting business data into abusiness profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13b is a sample user interface for inputting personal data into apersonal profile according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13c is a sample screen shot of a list of available profiles for aprivate network member according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a sample screen shot for confirming a list of network usersin a member's contact list to receive update requests according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sample confirmation message displayed to a member uponreceipt of a response to an update request according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sample confirmation message displayed to a member uponreceipt of a member's own updated contact information according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a sample screen shot of a member's user profile according toone embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Figures (“FIG.”) and the following description relate to preferredembodiments of the present invention by way of illustration only. Itshould be noted that from the following discussion, alternativeembodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will bereadily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the claimed invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a network system in accordancewith the present invention is shown. The network system includes aprivate network system 100 that is part of a network environment, whichincludes a public network 102 and a set of public network users 103.

In the context of the present invention, network is not limited to aphysical network, i.e., devices linked by physical communicationchannels (wired or wireless). Rather, network also includes functional(or logical) networks such as networks based on the type of messagingbetween users, which may be physically carried by various communicationchannels. For example, a network may include a group of wireless phonesusers communicating based on unique telephone numbers or it may includea group of computer users communicating based on unique e-mailaddresses. In addition, more than one functional network may be embodiedin a single physical network. By way of example, a computer network mayembody an electronic mail based functional network and an instantmessaging based functional network (e.g., AIM, ICQ, or the like).

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the public network 102 includes aphysical element and a functional element. The physical element ofpublic network 102 refers to a communications network, for example, acomputer network (e.g., local area network (“LAN”), wide area network(“WAN”), wireless data network (“WDN”), the Internet, or the like) or awireless protocol based communications network (e.g., network based onpersonal communications system (PCS), global system mobile (GSM)), orthe like.

The functional element of public network 102 refers to a communicationmode between network users 103. Examples of the communication mode areinstant messaging, electronic mail, telephone, wireless messaging, orthe like. Each communication mode includes a unique identifier that maybe used to address communications between users 103 in the publicnetwork 102. In the context of the present invention, the functionalelement of the public network 102, i.e., the element that relates to thecommunications mode, is referred to as public protocol or publiccommunication mode. For example, network users 103 may communicate via apublic electronic mail protocol (e.g., Post Office Protocol (POP),Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol(SMTP), Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) protocol, or thelike).

Referring again to FIG. 1, the network users 103 include one or moremembers 104 and one or more non-members 106 (or non-users) of theprivate network 100. The members 104 communicate with private networksystem 100 over the public network 102 using a private or proprietaryprotocol 108. The non-members 106 communicate with the members 104 inthe private network system 100 over a common or public communicationmethod or protocol 110 that is part of the public network 102.

In one embodiment of the present invention, members 104 may includegroups of members. Groups contain a set of members 104 and informationregarding non-members 106 that are related by a commonality, e.g., acommon idea or theme. For example, a “Half Moon Bay Surfer Club” group(a member 104) may include persons or information regarding personsbelonging to the Half Moon Bay Surfer Club. At least some of the personsare members 104 of the private network but not necessarily all sincesome of them may be non-members 106. A group is treated as another typeof member 104 in the system of the private network 100. Other individualmembers 104 of the private network 100 could have shared access to theinformation (e.g., address book, calendar, or the like) pertinent to thegroup-member 104. For example, one embodiment enables individual members104 to store their contact information in a group-member 104 account(i.e. group address book).

The access controls over the information in a shared group member 104profile or account could be implemented by various policies,controllable by one or more designated group moderators who are alsoindividual members 104. For example, in one embodiment, an accesscontrol policy could limit writeable access (e.g. create, edit, ordelete) for general group members 104 to their own information in theshared profile, that is, general members 104 would not be able to editother members' 104 information. An access control policy also includesspecial “moderator” permission for selected members 104 of the group.Moderator permissions would enable these selected members 104 to have adifferent set of access and control of the group information andpolicies. For example, in one embodiment, moderator members 104 areenabled to edit information regarding general members 104 of the group,to delete or remove one or more general members 104 from the groupaccount, and other similar control features.

Note that group membership could be implemented in a variety of methods.In one embodiment, members 104 that are part of a group account (anothermember 104) can invite other members 104 to join the group using privateprotocol 108, and can invite non-members 106 using public protocol 110(with a corresponding viral effect in private network 100 growth).Alternatively, non-members 106 can find information about the groupmember 104 in a public directory with a “join” button (e.g., a webpageor the like) and become private network members 104 while simultaneouslyjoining the group account. Further, in another embodiment, group members104 are generated dynamically based on member 104 informationattributes. For example, members 104 can be made part of a group accountbased on an internet domain name, i.e., any member 104 with a @candy.come-mail address is automatically added to the candy.com group, andnon-members 106 with a @candy.com e-mail address are invited to join thecandy.com group (and the private network 100 as part of the process).One benefit of group account is that information regarding persons witha common interest can be shared across the private network, for example,as a shared address book group or the like, and can be used bothinformally and formally within corporations and organizations.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the private network system 100 includes acentral server 112 and a database system 114 that are communicativelycoupled together. In one embodiment, the private network system 100 isbased on a hybrid peer-to-peer and client-server network architecture.For the client-server aspect of the network, central server 112 providesthe centralized functions of network management. Central server 112 mayinclude one or more computing systems (or machines), i.e., may be aserver farm, or the like. The central server 112 is connected to thenetwork 102 and can implement the private and public protocols 108, 110to communicate with the network users 103. Similarly, the database unit114 may be a single data storage device or a set of interconnectedstorage devices, e.g. storage area network (“SAN”), distributeddatabase, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2a , it illustrates an embodiment of a logicalnetwork environment in accordance with the present invention. Thelogical network environment includes the private network 100, the one ormore members 104, and the one or more non-members 106. Also illustratedis an example member system 104 a as set forth below. The one or moremembers 104 (including 104 a) and the one or more non-members arecommunicatively coupled through the private network 100.

The illustrated member system 104 a includes a client system (ormachine) 116 a and a database 128 a. The client system 116 a is aconventional computing system (e.g., personal computer, personal digitalassistant (“PDA”), mobile phone, computing tablet, and the like) thatincludes a conventional operating system (e.g., windowing, graphical,and/or text based operating system) and one or more applicationprograms. The client system 116 a communicates with a server system 112of the private network 100 through the computer network 102. Each clientsystem 116 (including 116 a) may host a client application for managingprivate protocol 108 and service 100 functions. The database 128 astores data and other informational entities as further describedherein.

FIG. 2b illustrates an embodiment of a structural network environment inaccordance with the present invention. The structural networkenvironment includes one or more client systems 116, the public network102, and one or more servers 112 in the private network 100. The clientsystem 116 may communicatively couple with other client systems 116 ordevices (e.g., PDA or mobile phone) through a direct or networkedconnection.

Each client system 116 includes a client application 118, an Internet(or web) browser 120, a personal information manager (“PIM”) 122, and aclient services module 126. The client application, the Internet browser120, the PIM 122, and the client services module 126 are communicativelycoupled through the operating system. The Internet browser 120 is aconventional browser for wired or wireless system. Examples includeInternet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., NetscapeNavigator by Netscape Communications, Corp. of Mountain View, Calif.,NetFront Web browser, by Access Systems America, Inc. of Freemont,Calif., or Openwave® Mobile Browser, by Openwave Systems, Inc. ofRedwood City, Calif.

The PIM 122 is a conventional PIM. Examples include Microsoft Outlook,by Microsoft Corporation and Lotus Notes, by Lotus Software ofinternational Business Machines (IBM), Cambridge, Mass. It is noted thatthe Internet browser 120 may be integrated with the client application118.

The client application 118 is an application a member 104 interacts withto access functionality of a system 100, for example, the system 100 ofthe present invention as disclosed herein. The member 104 interactionwith the system 100 includes the managing the communications between theclient system 116 and server 112 using private protocol 108. The clientapplication 118 may include a text or Graphical User Interface (“GUI”)124 front end. The client application 118 facilitates viewing,accessing, publishing and synchronizing of information. It is noted thatin alternative embodiments the client application 118 may be fullyintegrated with and embodied within the PIM 122, or may itselfconstitute a full-function PIM 122, and thus obviate the need for anyfurther independent or stand-alone PIM 122.

In one embodiment, the client application 118 provides PIM functionalityby facilitating/managing storage, publication and synchronization ofpersonal information of members 104. It should be noted that in thecontext of this description, personal information of a member 104includes information regarding the member 104 him/herself andinformation that the member 104 has regarding other users 103 (bothmembers 104 and non-members 106). Note that the ability for non-member106 to interact with the private network 100 beneficially adds value forthe members 104 with regard to gathering and storing information fromthe non-members 106.

The client services module 126 provides data services to both the clientapplication 118 and a local database 128. The client services module 126is furthermore responsible for executing accesses to the local database128 within which personal information of member 104 using client system116 may be maintained. Specifically, the client services module 126 isresponsible for the integrity and locking of the local database 128 atappropriate times. Components that are included within orcommunicatively couple with the client services module 126 may also beconfigured to synchronize information maintained in the local database128 with information maintained on a remote database 114 as described inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/703,949, filed on Nov. 7,2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,104, entitled “Synchronization andMerge Engines, said application having a common a assignee with thepresent invention and the contents of which are herein incorporated byreference.

For members 104, the client services module 126 communicates via theprivate protocol 108, which may include a Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”)stack, over the public network 102. In one embodiment, private protocol108 is a conventional proprietary binary protocol defining messageobjects that are communicated between the client application 118 at theclient system 116 and the server 112. Other customizable communicationprotocols can be use to implement the private protocol 108, for example,Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) based protocols or Remote ProcedureCall (“RPC”) based protocols may be used. The message objects mayfurther include other types of objects for the transfer of data. Forexample, private protocol 108 may define update messages to check fordata updates based on timestamps and define basic responses such as, forexample, “OUT OF DATE,” “RECORD INSERTED,” “O.K.,” or the like.

Optionally, the client services module 126 also has the capability tosynchronize with third party components hosted on, or coupled to, theclient system 116. For example, the client services module 126 may, viathe synchronization engine, synchronize with the PIM 122 or with a PDA132, or any other PIM capable device.

Referring next to the one or more servers of the private network 100 inFIG. 2b , illustrated is an example server system 112. The server system112 includes a firewall 136, a resonate dispatch 138, an SSL gateway139, an application server 140, a web server 142, a database managementsystem (“DBMS”)/data mining server 144, and the database 114. Thesecomponents are communicatively coupled together within the server system112.

In one embodiment the resonate dispatch 138 is optional and performsload balancing operations between multiple servers on which theapplication server 140 and the web server 142 are hosted. In oneembodiment, both the application server 140 and the web server 142 maybe hosted on physically or logically single servers.

The application server 140 may also be developed utilizing webtechnology such as, Java, J2EE, .NET, Visual Basic, or the like, andserves both the client services module 126 and the web server 142. Theapplication server 140 includes logic that allows a member 104 accessingthe application server 140 to access only information for which themember 104 has been granted permission. The application server 140 isalso responsible for sending personal information updates to the clientservices module 126 to synchronize the local database 128 with aspecific subset of information maintained within the server database 114for the specific member 104.

Another function of the application server 140 includes the handling anddisposition of service requests from members 104 and the correspondingresponses from users 103. These functions include the determination ofmembership in the private network, public and private protocolcommunications, and database 114 management. The application server 140queries the database 114 to determine which users 103 designated in amember's service request are also members 104 of the private network100. Application server 140 uses the private protocol 108 to sendservice request messages to members 104. In contrast, users 103determined to be non-members 106 receive information requests fromapplication server 140 via the public protocol 110. For this purpose,application server 140 may include a public protocol communicationsmodule to implement non-member communications.

The web server 142 communicates with the resonant dispatch 138 via anoptional SSL gateway 139 that encapsulates and decapsulates a protocolsuch as Hypertext Transport Protocol (“HTTP”) issued from and to bereceived at the web server 142. For example, private protocol 108messages can be wrapped in secured HTTP (“HTTPS”), that is, HTTP codeencapsulated with SSL encryption. The web server 142 may also bedeveloped utilizing web technology (e.g., Java, J2EE, .NET, VisualBasic, or the like). According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the application and web servers 142 and 140 provide fullaccess to permitted data within the database 114 to a member 104 throughits client system 116. The web server 142 may further function as aconduit for private protocol 108 messages tunneled through HTTP or HTTPScommunications between client applications 118 and the applicationserver 140.

The application server 140 allows access to permitted data within thedatabase 114 from any platform. Further, a part of the asymmetricaspects of the present invention, the application server 140 also allowsa non-member 106 to interface with private network 100. Hence, members104 receive the benefit of communicating with users 103 (other members104 and non-members 106) in the context of the system of the presentinvention.

The DBMS (or data-mining module) 144 is included in the system 100. TheDBMS 144 executes complex queries to the database 114 either whenprompted or on a scheduled basis. The algorithms that implement viralengine functions of the present invention may provide these queries. TheDBMS 144 may also execute other algorithms, including natural languageprocessing or heuristic algorithms, to extract member requestedinformation from non-member 106 public protocol 110 basedcommunications. For example, the DBMS 144 may process incoming e-mailsresponsive to member 104 contact update requests to extract non-member106 contact information. The DBMS 144 may be hosted on a server system,while the server database 114 may be implemented using a RAID storagedevice, or other similar system.

The server database 114 maintains synchronized copies of the local(client) databases 128 that may be implemented on numerous clientsystems 116 communicatively coupled to the server system 112. The serverdatabase 114 also records various permissions with respect to personalinformation by which personal information for a specific user may beaccessible by, and accordingly published to, multiple other users 103 asdescribed herein. It should be noted, that in an alternative embodimentthe server database 114 needs not store copies of the local databases128, the server database 114 may store links to the local databases 128to access as needed.

In accordance with the present invention, the server database 114facilitates a system in which an address book of a specific member 104(i.e., address information that is viewable by the specific member 104)is asymmetrically populated by information supplied and or published bymultiple other users 103, both members 104 and non-members 106.Accordingly, only a single copy of personal information concerning aspecific member 104 may exist within the server database 114, but thisspecific copy is accessible to multiple other members 104 to whom anowner member 104 has granted access permission. It should be noted thatthe single copy of personal information concerning a specific member 104might be replicated as cached copies during the system operation inorder to increase efficiency.

Conversely, several instances of personal information concerningnon-members 106 may exist within the server database 114, particularly,within personal member 104 records replicated from local clientdatabases 128. That is, two or more members 104 may each have one recordfor the same non-member 106. Further, the present invention envisagesthat the single copy of personal information for an owner member 104 maybe utilized to populate multiple local databases 128 maintained uponrespective client systems 116. Accordingly, a local database 128 on aremote client system 116 may be largely populated by informationretrieved from the server database 114, and which is maintained by anoriginator of such information about whom the information concerns.

The private network service 100 can be one or more of any informationmanagement services that can be provided as an asymmetric service over apublic network 102. For example, private network service 100 mayincluded one or more of calendar synchronization services, meetingscheduling services, reminder or notification services, notes or taskstracking services, advertisements (e.g., wanted ads), auction services,news services, hiring or employment related information managementservices, collaborative project management services, federated paymentprocessing services, security and verification services, authentication,trust, or any other services requiring information sharing,synchronization, or updating. For example, in one embodiment of thepresent invention, the private network service 100 includes a personalcontact information updating service operating via a wireless networkamong wireless phone users 103. In another embodiment, private networkservice 100 includes a universal address book operating over theInternet among e-mail users 103.

By way of example with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b , a member 104 awith a local address book in a storage device (local database 128 a)accesses the private and public networks with a personal computer(client system 116 a). The member 104 a selects a set of e-mail users(users 103) for requesting updated contact information. The member'spersonal computer (e.g., client system 116) sends update requestsidentifying the set of e-mail users by e-mail address to a server system112 using a proprietary messaging (private protocol 108).

Based on the e-mail addresses provided, the server system 112 looks upthe e-mail users in a universal address book in the service database 114to determine membership in the private network 100. Once the e-mailusers are identified as members 104 (i.e., other members) andnon-members 106, the server system 112 sends update request messages tothe other members 104 using the proprietary messaging and sends e-mailmessages (public protocol 110) requesting updated contact information tonon-members 106.

An advantage of the present invention includes asymmetric operation,which may be leveraged to grow the private network 100. Now referring toFIG. 3a , a flow chart of a process for growing the private network 100in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The serviceis initialized 150 when a user 103 becomes a member 104, for example,when a user 103 accepts an invitation to join a private network. Asdescribed below service initialization 150 is configured to be africtionless process. For example, a user 103 may download anapplication client-software and install it in the user's client system116. Thus, as part of the initialization process 150 the user 103becomes a member 104.

After the service initialization process 150, new member 104 can beginusing the features provided by service 100 by submitting servicerequests. When a member 104 begins to use the service 100, servicerequests are received 152 for processing. For example, a member's clientsoftware may designate a set of contacts in the member's contact listfor which updated information is to be requested. As part of theprocessing, service requests are sent 154 to other members 104 and tonon-members 106 using the appropriate communication method. Forinstance, a notification to verify a member's own personal contactinformation stored in the system database 114 may be sent via privateprotocol 108 to any member 104 designated in the service request.

In addition, an e-mail message may be sent to non-members 106 askingthem to provide current contact information in a reply e-mail message.Members 104 may respond to service requests via the private protocol 108if, for example, their own information stored in the system database 114needs to be updated. Non-members 106 may respond via the public protocol110 or some other alternative general access mode. In one embodimentnon-members can respond to update requests using e-mail messages orweb-based forms via the Internet.

The service responses are received 156 and the service to the originalmember is performed 158 on server 112. For example, current contactinformation provided by non-members 106 may be extracted from responsee-mail messages using heuristic algorithms and that information may beused to update member database records concerning the non-members 106.

Similarly, response messages from members 104 confirming that their owninformation stored in the server system database 114 is current, orproviding updated information, are received via the private protocol 108and the member profiles of the requesting and providing members 104 arelinked in the system database 114. Then, using the private protocol 108to communicate with the client application software in the requestingmember's client system 116, the local database 128 is updated 160 toinclude information in the service responses. The service may berequested 162 once again, for example, for a new set of contacts, or itmay be terminated 164.

Referring now to FIG. 3b , shown is an event diagram of one example of amethod illustrating asymmetric operation according to one embodiment ofthe present invention. System server 112 sends 168 a communication to auser 103 that results in the user 103 becoming a member 104 a. Thecommunication may be an update request bearing an invitation to join theprivate network, a download of client software, or the like. The member104 a sends 170 a service request that designates a set of users 103from which information is to be requested. The server 112 accesses 172central database 114 to determine which designated users 103 are members104 and which ones are non-members 106. The database 114 provides 174the membership information regarding the designated users 103 to theserver 112. The server 112 sends 176 information requests to members 104via private protocol 108 and sends 178 information requests tonon-members 106 via public protocol 110.

Responses from members 104 and non-members 106 may occur over a periodof time and in no particular order. FIG. 3b also shows a representativeset of actions for each type of response. For example, members 104respond 180 to the service request via private protocol 108. Aparticular member 104 response may be, for example, an update to themember's own information, an authorization to allow the requestingmember 104 a access to their information, or the like. The server 112accesses 182 the database 114 to process responses from other members104. These processes include update information according to theresponses from other members 104 or to enable links between systemrecords of the requesting member 104 a and the responding members 104.Once the server database 114 has been updated with any member responseinformation, the server 112 communicates 184 with the requesting member104 a. These communications include notification of the new links made,synchronizing system (e.g., universal address book), synchronizing local(e.g., PIM 122 or local database 128) information, or the like. Itshould be noted that in one embodiment, server 112 might automaticallyprocess service requests to at least some members 104 based on thepermissions those members 104 have provided. For example, a member 104may have a public information card with a permission indicating that thecard can be provided to any update requesting member 104 withoutrequiring any further input.

In contrast, non-members 106 respond 186 via the public protocol 110 inone or more different ways. For example, non-members may respond throughreply e-mail, voicemail, instant message, web-access, or the like. Theserver 112 processes the responses of non-members 106 by determiningrelevant information of non-members 106 by extracting it from theresponse mechanism used by the non-member 106. For example, the server112 may be the recipient of the e-mail messages sent as replies to apersonal information update request. The e-mail update requests mayinclude the server 112 recognizable field names (e.g., “New Address:_(——————)” “New e-mail: _(——————),” or the like) that a non-member 106can use to provide “fill-in-the-blank” information in their reply e-mailmessage. Upon receipt of the reply e-mails, the server 112 may use atext-searching algorithm to find strings with the recognizable fieldnames and capture the text following as the non-member 106 responses.Other similar text processing algorithms can be used to extract thenon-member 106 update information. In an alternative embodiment, moreadvanced heuristic based algorithms can be use to extract and validatethe format of non-member provided update information.

Once some or all the relevant information is available, the server 112updates 188 the system records of the member 104 a regarding informationof the non-member 106. The server 112 also communicates 190 with themember 104 a in regard to the non-member 106. This communication may beto update the member 104 a about information received from eachnon-member 106 (e.g., service unrelated information included in a replye-mail) or to synchronize the local database 118 with the updatednon-member information.

Now referring to FIGS. 4a through 4d , a set of logical diagramsdepicting viral network growth according to one embodiment of thepresent invention is shown. In the context of these Figures,representations of non-members 106 are designated by the letter “U”followed by a number and representations of members 104 are designatedby the letter “M” followed by a number. Further, private networkconnections are shown as arrows, either uni-directional, pointing awayfrom members M to non-members U and depicting asymmetric network links,or bi-directional, pointing towards two members M and depictingsymmetric portions of the private network over which enhanced servicesare available. It should be noted that private network connections arenot necessarily physical connections. Rather, they may include virtuallinks between users 103 (members M and non-members U) representative ofthe services offered by the private network and the informationexchanges in connection with those services.

FIG. 4a shows a first member MO that uses private network service 100with a subset of non-members U1, U3, U7, U11, U2, U4, and U5. The arrowspointing away from MO represent communications that expose thenon-members U to the private network, for example, service requests withinvitations to join, e-mails or other messages mentioning the privatenetwork service, or the like.

Non-members U1 and U2 decide to join the private network 100, forexample, by responding to an invitation to join the private networkincluded with a private network service request, and become members M1and M2. The other non-members U3, U7, U11, U4, and U5, have been exposedto the private network for the first time and decide not to join theprivate network, e.g., may ignore the communication from MO, may nothave the time to look into the service, or for some other reason to notjoin at this time.

As shown in FIG. 4b , M1 and M2 use the private network service 100 withanother subset of non-members U. M1 uses the private network service 100with U6, U3, U5, and MO. M2 uses the service with U11, U12, U10, U4, andMO. Since MO was already a member, the link between MO and M1 and M2 aresymmetric, shown by the bi-directional arrows, are enhanced services areavailable between these members M.

It should be noted that since MO had contacts with members M1 and M2, itis possible that M1 and M2 may share contacts with MO, and therefore,may use the private network service 100 with some subset of users 103 incommon with MO, for example, U3, U5, U4, and U11. Thus, some non-membersU get multiple exposures to private network service 100 from differentmembers M. Hence, these non-members are provided with multipleopportunities to join the private network. In and of itself, themultiple exposures may induce non-members U to join the private network.For instance, non-members may think that if two friends or businesscontacts are using the service it may be worth looking into it, or theymay have a closer or more trustworthy relationship with the secondmember, or the like.

FIG. 4c shows the next iteration of the viral growth deployment. Herenon-member user U3 contacted by both MO and M1 has decided to join theprivate network and is using the service with some overlappingnon-members, e.g., U6, and some non-members who had not previously beenexposed to the private network, e.g., U9. A similar situation is shownwith respect to non-member U4 who became member M4. After severaliterations, the number of members M increases exponentially as the poolof non-members U coming in contact with the private network becomeslarger and larger. Eventually, all users 103 may become members M asdepicted in FIG. 4 d.

In order to help achieve desired levels of viral growth, a viralequation provides a guide for growth of greater than one for every newmember 104 of a private network. A viral equation (1) can be implementedusing a viral engine approach to network growth.Growth=N×Cr>1  (1)

N is the number of non-members 106 exposed to the private network. CR isthe conversion rate into member of the private network. If for everymember 104 at least more than one other user 103 becomes a member 104,the network will grow exponentially. However, if the per member growthis less than or equal to one, for example, if the service offered doesnot entice users 103 to join, the network will sequentially grow veryslowly (Growth=1), remain at the same size (Growth<1), and couldeventually collapse (Growth<0).

The implementation of viral growth features as well as similaradaptations falls within the scope of the present invention. Severalviral features according to the present invention are described withrespect to FIGS. 5a through 17. These features are intended to maximizethe variables of the viral equation thereby resulting in a growth ratesgreater than one.

Accordingly, one aspect included in the present invention is the use ofgenetic algorithms to adapt and improve features of every aspect of theprivate network service 100 leading to the conversion of a non-member106 to a member 104. The genetic evolution of features that have shownto successfully contribute to member conversion contributes tomaximizing the conversion rate (CR). FIGS. 5a through 8c facilitate thedescription of some aspects of this genetic evolution feature.

FIG. 5a shows a list of electronic mail (e-mail) messages for sending tonon-members according to one embodiment of the present invention. Eachline in the first column is a file name for an e-mail message used torequest contact information updates from non-members 106. These messagesalso include invitations to join the private network. Each message ischaracterized by a set of aesthetic appeal related features, forexample, colors, arrangement, tone, graphics, and the like. Theconversion rate (CR), in this case, the rate of positive invitationresponses, for each message is recorded and tracked for a period oftime, the values for each of three time frames is shown in each column.

By way of example, FIG. 5b shows an e-mail message with the user'sinformation in a business card format that includes reply buttons tochange or confirm the information. FIG. 5c shows an alternativeembodiment of the e-mail message with a card showing business andpersonal information and a stand-alone “update” button. FIG. 5d showsyet another embodiment of the update e-mail message composed in simpletext and including a list of personal information field titles to befilled out by the user. These messages are examples of the serviceresponse messages for non-members 106 discussed above. For example,non-members 106 may respond to an information update request by replyingto an e-mail message such as any of the ones shown in FIGS. 5a-5d .Then, a server 112 may apply natural language processing algorithms toextract response information as described above.

In addition to the layout and the use of text alone or text andgraphics, other features that may be genetically evolved and trackedinclude colors, sizes, shapes, and the like. The features included insuccessful, i.e., high conversion rate, e-mail messages are cloned intosubsequent generation of messages while those of unsuccessful messagesare eliminated. For example, the first e-mail message in FIG. 5a ,su_default_nlp, has a total conversion rate of 2.93%, the highestconversion rate of all e-mail messages. Accordingly, the features inthis message are likely to be cloned in future versions of the message.

A similar genetic evolution approach is used for Internet web pages inone embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 shows a table of web pagespresented to users visiting the private network service web site. Forthese web pages, success is measured based on the degree ofaccomplishment of the intended purpose of each web page. For example,edit_contact_information (“ECI”) pages are intended for users to providetheir updated information, possibly to download the client software, andto launch the service. FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate two alternativeembodiment of an edit_contact_information web page with differentaesthetic appeal related features.

FIG. 7a shows a light color background information input form 200preceded by a short message 202 with instructions on how to fill it out.The form 200 displays information fields 204 for personal and businessinformation in separate sections 206 (206 a and 206 b) arrangedvertically, business information section 206 a above the personalinformation section 206 b. Two buttons 208 are displayed to send orconfirm the information displayed. A note 210 at the bottom of the form200 explicitly provides information in a personalized tone about thebenefits of joining the private network, e.g., “Hi Joe, this serviceavoids the hassle of sending e-mails back and forth, and keep ourcontact information updated automatically. It's free and easy to use.”

FIG. 7b shows an alternative user interface for anedit_contact_information page. Here the form 200 is displayed to looklike a page in an address book with index tabs 214 along the right sidehighlighting the letter corresponding to the non-member's name. Theinformation fields 204 for business and personal information aredisplayed in horizontally arranged sections (206 a and 206 b), side byside. Instructions and other information about filling out the form aredisplayed on a “pop-up” window 202 design. A button 208 is displayed atthe bottom of the form to continue once the information has beenentered. A note 210 is displayed offering more information, e.g., “Learnmore . . . ”

Similarly, edit_contact_information_done (“ECID”) pages may be intendedto provide information about the private network to convince non-membersto join the network. By way of example, ECID pages may include a link todownload private network client software. FIGS. 8a through 8c showalternative embodiments of ECID web pages with different aestheticappeal related features.

FIG. 8a shows one example of an ECID web page 220. Across the top of thepage a navigation bar 221 is displayed. Since this page is shown after anon-member updates or edits contact information, a thank you message 222is displayed. In this embodiment, the “thank you” message 222 includes adescription of a benefit of joining the private network 100. A graphicdisplay 224 of several features of the system is also included. Thegraphic display 224 is intended to convey the general function of theprivate service 100 and some of its value added features in order toconvince non-members 106 to join the private network. A download button226 with a particular textual description, shape, size, location, andcolor, provides a link to the download and installation of the privatenetwork client software. Other service related information 228 isdisplayed, for example, as a list of common questions, available systeminterface options, and the like. In addition, some third party logos 230are included to promote user trust in the private network service 100.For example, a VeriSign® Secure Site logo provides a measure of thesecurity features offered by the private network based standards of athird party, VeriSign Inc. of Mountain View, Calif. A Trust-e logo (ortrustmark) provides measure of the privacy features offered by theprivate network based on standards by a third party, TRUSTe of SanFrancisco, Calif.

Similarly, FIG. 8b shows another example of an ECID web page 220 withdifferent variations of aesthetic related features of these elements. Inthis example download button 226 includes a different descriptive text,size, location, and shape. Some of the text in other elements isdisplayed in a different color. Only a Trust-e logo 230 is displayed.FIG. 8c also shows yet another example of an ECID web page 220 withdifferent variations of aesthetic related features of these elements. Inthis embodiment graphic display 224 is significantly different. It isreduced in size and placed side-by-side with the private serviceadditional information 228 textual descriptions. These Figures representsome examples of potential variations but many more permutations andvariations of these and other aesthetic related features are possibleand within the scope of the present invention.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the measures of success for different versionsweb-pages (as described with respect to FIGS. 7a through 8c ) are shown.Based on these measures of success, aesthetic related features in themost successful web pages are cloned into subsequent versions of thosepages using genetic algorithms. Thus, a feedback loop is established tohelp increase the likelihood of positive responses in the form ofconversion to membership with each generation. In turn, this helpsincrease the conversion rate (CR) for overall network growth.

Another viral engine feature according to one aspect of the presentinvention is the frictionless private network service 100 setup process.The frictionless setup process increases the likelihood that a new usermay complete a setup process and join the private network as a member.Hence, the setup process of the private service 100 according to thepresent invention is best accomplished minimizing the number of stepsand number of user inputs required for completion.

FIG. 9a through 9g show user interface screenshots of a sampleregistration and setup process of one embodiment of the invention.

The setup process beings with a license agreement shown in FIG. 9a ,which requires a first button selection from the non-member 106. Oncethe license is accepted, the client software download begins. Thedownload and installation progress is tracked on the user interface ofthe non-member 106 with the screen shown in FIG. 9b . A second userinput is required from the non-member 106 to determine which applicationwhich the private service 100 will interact with, i.e., preferred accessmode, which is shown in FIG. 9 c.

FIG. 9d shows another user interface to receive a third input from thenon-member 106 indicating whether the non-member 106 is in fact new tothe private network or is an existing member 104 downloading the clientsoftware again. A fourth user interaction is required to establish a newuser password for accessing the private network as shown in FIG. 9e .FIG. 9f shows an optional security question selection screen for abackup authentication if a member forgets his or her password. FIG. 9gshows the registration completion page.

FIGS. 9a through 9f illustrate a frictionless system with only fivesimple user inputs. Through this process a non-member can complete aregistration process, including download and installation of clientsoftware quickly and with minimal intrusion. It should be noted, that nouser input is required for entering personal information. This processis performed later aided by data-mining features of the private networkin accordance with the present invention. Another aspect of thefrictionless system includes an auto-validation feature to verifypersonal information provided by new members 104 before sharing withother members 104. For example, once a new member 104 provides an e-mailaddress as his own, server 112 may send an e-mail message to the addressprovided and automatically confirm receipt of the e-mail message by theclient application 118 using private protocol 108 confirmation message.

As previously described, the viral equation of the present invention hasa number of users 103 exposed to the private network (N) and theconversion rate element (CR). As described previously, a number offeatures of the viral engine help increase conversion rate (CR).Additional features of the viral engine are intended to maximize theother element of the viral equation, i.e., the number of users 103 (N)that are exposed to the private network. Assuming a constant conversionrate (CR), the more users 103 that are exposed to the private network orreceive an opportunity to join, the faster the private network willgrow. Nevertheless, as the number of users 103 (N) grows, it may alsoprovide for an increase in conversion rate as further described below.

To increase exposure to users 103, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, once a user 103 registers and becomes a member 104, an updatecontacts wizard is launched in the member's client system 116. FIGS. 10through 14 show example sample screen shots of a user interface for anupdate contacts wizard.

FIG. 10 shows a screen shot that informs the member 104 of the wizard'sprocess 300 and provides a feature selection 302 that allows the member104 to select whether to request an update or whether to provide anupdate. FIG. 11 shows a screen shot of a user interface for the user 103selection step (1) of the update contacts wizard of this embodiment. Asa default in one embodiment, all the users 103 in a member's contactslist or address book are automatically selected in order to maximize thenumber of users 103 exposed to the private network (N in the viralequation). However, member 104 may be given the option to select asubset of those users 103.

At this step, another aspect of the present invention includes adata-mining feature that contributes to maximizing the number of users103 exposed to the private network (N) and to maximizing the conversionrate (CR). The data-mining feature of the viral engine is intended forfinding users 103 more likely to join the private network. In oneembodiment, heuristic algorithms are applied to a member's e-mailfolders to find users 103 that are not included in the member's contactslist or address book 304. The result of this feature is shown in FIG. 11as a number of e-mail users 306. For example, e-mail messages can bescanned to find e-mail addresses in the headers and bodies of themessages. The data-mining feature in this embodiment may include otheralgorithms to apply to the member's e-mail folders. For example, asyntax-checking algorithm may be used to find invalid e-mail addressesin a member's 104 address book, which avoids sending update requests toinvalid e-mail addresses. This feature contributes to increasing theconversion rate (CR) by aiding in the selection of non-members 106 withvalid e-mail addresses. That is, non-members with valid e-mail addressesare more likely to respond to an e-mail based invitation to join thenetwork 100 than non-members 106 with invalid e-mail addresses, who willprobably not even receive the invitation e-mail messages.

The data-mining feature further includes heuristics and other algorithmsto repeatedly perform data analysis of the member's storedcommunications to determine a degree relationship between users 103 andmember 104. Analysis to identify relationship to users 103 may includeheuristic, natural language processing based, and other algorithms basedon, for example, frequency of sending, receiving, or replying tocommunications, length of communications, tone of written messages,specific words or strings in messages or descriptions that may signal acloser relation (e.g., “Dear mom,” “Dad's cell no.,” or the like), areacodes, time of day of communications, or any other information inmembers records that can lead to relationship related information. Apremise of this feature is that the closer the relationship between amember 104 and a non-member 106 receiving the member's service request,which may bear an invitation to join the private network, the morelikely it is that the non-member may subscribe to the private network,i.e., the higher the likelihood of conversion. Therefore, thisrelationship based viral feature positively impacts the conversion rate(CR).

Next, a frequency bar 310 graphically represents the relative frequencyof contact with each user 103. As shown in FIG. 11, a sorted list ofusers 103 based on frequency from most frequent to least frequent can bedisplayed at the time the member selects which users 103 to use theprivate service with. By using this sorted arrangement, users 103 mostfrequently communicating with member 104 are prominently displayed atthe top of the list making it more likely to be selected. Users 103 thatregularly communicate with member 104 are more likely to join theprivate network than other users 103 who seldom communicate with member104. Other heuristic algorithms to determine users 103 likely to joinbased on relationship with the member 104 include frequency of reply tomember's messages, frequency of reply to user's messages, length ofmessages, topic of messages, and the like.

The viral engine of the present invention also includes apersonalization feature that contributes to maximizing the conversionrate (CR). Messages that look personal from the sender as opposed togeneric messages are more likely to elicit a response from the receiver.For example, e-mail messages that look generic are often discarded as‘junk” mail hence they are less likely to prompt a response. FIG. 12shows a sample screen shot of a user interface for the personalizationstep (2) of a contact update wizard of one embodiment of the invention.An information update request e-mail message is provided with a set offields that the member 104 can personalize. Default text is providedthat reads in the first person explaining the purpose of the service andthe benefits of joining the private network. Users 103 are provided withthe option to join the private network as a response to the message sothat their information will be automatically updated with the member104. In addition, instructions for alternatively replying to the messageto provide a one-time update are also provided. The more a member 104personalizes the message the more likely it is that the intendedrecipient, user 103, will respond and join the private network.

Message personalization provides a second benefit to network deployment.By allowing members 104 to personalize their messages, a “word-of-mouth”recommendation process is encouraged. When used in subsequent updaterequests, after a member 104 has been using the private network servicefor some time, the message personalization feature provides a forum forthe member 104 to report to potential new members (i.e., non-members106) the member's satisfaction and positive experiences using theservice.

A third and final step of an update contacts wizard of one embodiment ofthe invention includes the member information input (3). FIGS. 13athrough 13c illustrate this process. FIG. 13a shows a screen shot of asample user interface for a member business information input screen andFIG. 13b shows a personal information version of the same. One featureof the frictionless set-up process of the viral engine previouslymentioned is the use of data-mining algorithms over the existingmember's stored messages to gather member information and automaticallypopulate as many fields of user information as possible. Thiscontributes to the frictionless setup process because it reduces theneed for a new member 104 to input data. For example, a member's sente-mail folder could be scanned to find a current e-mail address,business information from signature blocks, and the like. Similarly,e-mail folders can be scanned to determine whether the member 104 usesmore than one e-mail address. Frequency of the member's e-mail addressescan be calculated to determine the most likely current e-mail address.

Once the member 104 information is gathered it is displayed to themember 104 for confirmation as shown in FIG. 13c . One aspect of thepresent invention includes the member-controlled access to memberinformation. FIG. 13c also shows a selection field for a member 104 todetermine which of the member's personal or business information is tobe used in connection with update request messages. Alternativeembodiments may allow a member 104 to create multiple information cards,or personas, each with a subset of personal information fields. Themember 104 can grant a different set of access rights to each field ofpersonal information by including it in a separate card. Otherembodiments of the present invention provide a field-by-fieldauthorization feature that allows members 104 to control access to eachfield of their personal information.

In one embodiment of the present invention, group type members 104 couldcerate multiple sets of information or sub-databases (e.g., addressbooks, lists of contacts, or the like) within the group member 104profile or account. In general, one of these sub-databases may includethe information relating to the members 104 who are part of the group.Other sub-databases are used to store other information of relevance tothe group members. For example, a ‘job hunter” group might contain twoaddress books, one address book with contact information of the members104 who compose the group, and a second address book with contactinformation of employers. It should be noted, that at least some of theinformation in one or more group sub-databases may be informationregarding non-members 106 provided via public protocol 110 as describedabove.

FIG. 14 shows a sample screen shot of a user interface confirmationscreen of an update contact wizard of one embodiment of the invention.The member 104 is presented the list of designated users 103 for sendingservice requests to prior to completing the update contact wizard. Thisscreen provides a check for any potential error in the previous wizardsteps and further ensures the member 104 privacy by verifying whichusers 103 will have access to the member provided information.

Following the completion of the update contact wizard, the privatenetwork server 112 manages the required functions to complete theprivate network service. For example, upon receiving the list of users103 from a member 104, server 112 determines which users 103 are alreadyprivate network members 104 and which ones are non-members 106. Server112 manages the transmission of information update requests usingprivate and public protocols and the corresponding responses.Non-members 106 may ignore the request or respond in one of a variety ofways. For example, non-member 106 may simply reply to an update requeste-mail, may use a web-based interface to provide the update, or may jointhe private network and provide the information from within the privatenetwork as discussed below.

E-mail responses can be parsed with conventional language processingalgorithms to determine the contact information fields, for example,text beginning with a number after a “my new address” string may berecognized as a street address. If the web-based interface is usedinstead, a set of fields can be presented for input to the non-member106. FIG. 15 shows a confirmation notification to member 104 after anon-member 106 provides a response to the member's update request. Anon-member 106 may include other service unrelated information for themember 104 in addition to the update information. Thus, after the server112 has determined what portions of a non-member's e-mail responsecorrespond to contact information, any additional text is provided tothe member 104 for review.

Other members 104 have their information stored in member profileswithin the private network database 114. Each member 104 designates someof the contact information in the member profile as public. Informationdesignated as public, either in a field-by-field or card basedembodiment, can be accessed by other members 104. The other members 104must provide at least one currently unique identifier of the member thatis stored within the member profile. An example of a unique identifieris a current e-mail address, phone number, or the like. Thus, for thesubset of users 103 that are already members 104 and that weredesignated by a requesting member 104 for updating, a link is createdbetween the member profiles and contacts list of the requesting member104. The link will automatically provide the information provided in themember profile designated as public. Other information in the memberprofile can only be accessed after the information providing member 104authorizes access by the requesting member 104.

In one embodiment, implicit authorization to a set of privateinformation can be used based on the nature of the unique identifierprovided for the update request. For example, if a requesting member 104holds a private unique identifier of another information providingmember 104, that is, a unique identifier designated as private in theproviding member profile, the link that the system 100 establishesbetween the members 104 may provide access to other private informationof the information providing member 104 related to the private uniqueidentifier. For example, member A may request an update for member B byproviding an e-mail address for member B. The e-mail address provided bymember A is stored in member B's profile in a personal information carddesignated as private. Thus, other information in that private card ofmember B will be made accessible to member A as part of the update.

Once a link is established between member profiles and contact lists,any update in a profile is automatically reflected in the contact listof other members 104. Further, once a link is established, even if theunique identifier, e.g., e-mail address, of a member 104 changes,members 104 remain linked and receive updated information. This featureis an enhanced feature of the private network 100 only available tomembers 104. FIG. 16 shows one embodiment of a notification message toinform members about profile updates of other members in their contactlist according to this aspect of the invention.

FIG. 17 shows a sample screen shot of a member profile 350 according toone embodiment of the present invention. Member profile 350 includes ageneral status 351, a contact based status window 352, recent alertwindow 353, information cards window 354 including business card 356 andpersonal card 358. The general status 351 is a summary of how currentthe information in the member's contact list or address book is. Contactbased status window 352 shows a list of the member's contacts indicatingfor each member 104 whether their information has been updated. Thestatus includes a designation for contacts that are private networkmembers 104, which indicates that the information for those contacts iscurrent, e.g., “member.” For non-members 106 the status can include“replied,” “sent” or “pending,” and “out-of-date” to indicate whetherthe information has been updated, a request has been sent but notreplied to, or no request has been sent. The recent alert window 353provides recent notifications that the member 104 may want to review.

The information cards window 354 includes the member's own informationorganized in cards or “personas” to which different access rights can begranted. For example, business card 356 includes the member's publiclyavailable (to other members 104) information while personal card 358includes the member's personal information only available to members 104specifically authorized. In this context, publicly available meansavailable to members 104 having at least a unique identifier of amember, such as, a current verified e-mail address, IM user id, phonenumber, or the like.

While particular embodiments and applications of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the precise construction and componentsdisclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variationsmay be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methodsand apparatuses of the present invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as it is defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a computingdevice and based on an electronic mailbox associated with a user of acontact network, target users associated with the user; determining, foreach of a plurality of advertisements associated with the contactnetwork, a corresponding response rate that is based on a quantity ofrecipient users that responded to the advertisement after being sent theadvertisement; determining a highest response rate, of the responserates, and a determined advertisement corresponding to the highestresponse rate; and causing sending, to at least a subset of the targetusers and based on the determining the highest response rate and thedetermined advertisement, the determined advertisement.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining, for at least one of the targetusers, a frequency of responding to messages sent from the user; andbased on a determination that the frequency satisfies a threshold,adding the at least one of the target users to the subset of the targetusers.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on adetermination that at least one of the target users has a familialrelationship with the user, adding the at least one of the target usersto the subset of the target users.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: selecting, based on a determination that a subset ofaesthetic appeal related features, from a variety of aesthetic appealrelated features, prompts a response to the determined advertisement,the subset of aesthetic appeal related features to be included in thedetermined advertisement.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:generating a report comprising a frequency bar graphically representinga frequency of electronic mail communication with the target users. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the target userscomprises performing analysis of electronic mail messages withinelectronic mail folders of the user to determine target users that arenot members of the contact network or that are likely to respond to thedetermined advertisement.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, after the causing sending the determined advertisement,contact information associated with a target user of the subset of thetarget users.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: designating,based on input received from the user, a set of contacts in a contactlist of the user to be updated; causing sending, to members of thecontact network associated with the set of contacts, a request to verifytheir respective contact information; and causing sending, tonon-members of the contact network associated with the set of contacts,an electronic mail message asking the non-members to provide currentcontact information in a reply electronic mail message, wherein theelectronic mail message comprises a fill-in-the-blank form.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: determining, based on whether theat least the subset of the target users responded to the determinedadvertisement, whether the determined advertisement elicited a responsefrom the at least the subset of the target users; and updating, based ona quantity of the target users that responded to the determinedadvertisement, the determined advertisement.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the determined advertisement is an automatically-generatedadvertisement, the method further comprising: causing sending, to theuser, an option to edit the automatically-generated advertisement.
 11. Amethod comprising: determining, by a computing device and based on anelectronic mailbox associated with a user of a contact network, targetusers associated with the user; determining, for at least one of thetarget users, a frequency of responding to messages sent from the user;and based on a determination that the frequency satisfies a threshold,causing sending, to the at least one of the target users, anadvertisement associated with the contact network.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the determining the target users comprises performinganalysis of electronic mail messages within electronic mail folders ofthe user to determine target users that are not members of the contactnetwork or that are likely to respond to the advertisement.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: determining, for each of aplurality of advertisements associated with the contact network, acorresponding response rate that is based on a quantity of recipientusers that responded to the advertisement after being sent theadvertisement; and determining a highest response rate, of the responserates, and a determined advertisement corresponding to the highestresponse rate, wherein the advertisement sent to the at least one of thetarget users is the determined advertisement.
 14. The method of claim13, further comprising: selecting, based on a determination that asubset of aesthetic appeal related features, from a variety of aestheticappeal related features, prompts a response to the determinedadvertisement, the subset of aesthetic appeal related features to beincluded in the determined advertisement.
 15. The method of claim 11,wherein the advertisement sent to the at least one of the target usersis an automatically-generated advertisement, the method furthercomprising: causing sending, to the user, an option to edit theautomatically-generated advertisement.
 16. The method of claim 1,further comprising: determining, based on the electronic mailbox, one ormore additional target users for receipt of the determinedadvertisement; and causing sending, to the one or more additional targetusers, the determined advertisement.
 17. A system comprising: a firstcomputing device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storingexecutable instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors of the first computing device, cause the first computingdevice to: determine, based on an electronic mailbox associated with auser of a contact network, target users associated with the user;determine, for each of a plurality of advertisements associated with thecontact network, a corresponding response rate that is based on aquantity of recipient users that responded to the advertisement afterbeing sent the advertisement; determine a highest response rate, of theresponse rates, and a determined advertisement corresponding to thehighest response rate; and cause sending, based on a determination ofthe highest response rate and of the determined advertisement, thedetermined advertisement; and a second computing device comprising: oneor more processors of the second computing device, and memory storingexecutable instructions that, when executed by the one or moreprocessors of the second computing device, cause the second computingdevice to: receive the determined advertisement.
 18. The system of claim17, wherein the instructions in the memory of the first computingdevice, when executed by the one or more processors of the firstcomputing device, cause the first computing device to: determine, basedon the electronic mailbox, one or more additional target users forreceipt of the determined advertisement; and cause sending, to the oneor more additional target users, the determined advertisement.
 19. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the instructions in the memory of the firstcomputing device, when executed by the one or more processors of thefirst computing device, cause the first computing device to: determine,for at least one of the target users, a frequency of responding tomessages sent from the user; and based on a determination that thefrequency satisfies a threshold, add the at least one of the targetusers to the subset of the target users.
 20. The system of claim 17,wherein the instructions in the memory of the first computing device,when executed by the one or more processors of the first computingdevice, cause the first computing device to further: based on adetermination that at least one of the target users has a familialrelationship with the user, add the at least one of the target users tothe subset of the target users.